The Explanation of the Name of Allah فاطر السماوات و الأرض

بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Explanation of the Name of Allah فاطر السماوات و الأرض (Faatirus-Samawaati-Wal-Ard) - The Creator of the Heavens and Earth

The Linguistic Meaning

The word 'Fatara' and 'Fattara' mean 'split'. This meaning is mentioned in Surah Al-Infitaar [82:1]:

"When the heaven is cleft asunder."

When we say the earth "Tafattarat" with a plant, it means that the earth split and the plant came out. Allah "Fattara" the creation means that He created and initiated them. 

This Noble Name is mentioned Six Times in the Noble Qur'an:

1) Allah says in Surah Al-An'aam [6:14]:

"Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): "Shall I take as a Wali (helper, protector, etc.) any other than Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed." Say: "Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to Allah (as Muslims)." And be not you (O Muhammad ﷺ) of the Mushrikun [polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah]."

2) He also says in Surah Yusuf [12:101]:

"My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The (only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous."

3) In Surah Ibraheem [14:10], Allah says:

"Their Messengers said: "What! Can there be a doubt about Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you (to Monotheism and to be obedient to Allah) that He may forgive you of your sins and give you respite for a term appointed." They said: "You are no more than human beings like us! You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring us a clear authority i.e. a clear proof of what you say)."

4) In Surah Faatir [34:1], Allah says:

"All the praises and thanks be to Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. His is all the praises and thanks in the Hereafter, and He is the AllWise, the AllAware."

5) In Surat Az-Zumar [39:46], Allah says:

"Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): "O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! All-Knower of the Ghaib (unseen) and the seen. You will judge between your slaves about that wherein they used to differ."

6) In Surat Ash-Shura [42:11], Allah says:

"The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you mates from yourselves, and for the cattle (also) mates. By this means He creates you (in the wombs). There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer."

The Meaning of the Name: 

Qatada said: "Faatirus-Samaawati wal-Ard" means the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth" [Majaaz Al-Qur'an]

Ibn Jarir said, "Faatirus-Samaawati wal-Ard" means its Inventor, Initiator, and Creator." [Jaami'ul-Bayan] 

Al-Khattabi said, "Al-Faatir is the One who Fatara the creation; i.e. Initiated their creation, as He says in Surat Al-Israa [17:51]:

قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ

"Say: "He Who created you first!"

of this is meaning is their statement, "Fatara the canine of the camel, when it first appears"

Al-Hasan Ibn Abdur-Raheem mentioned to me that Abdullah Ibn Zubair said that Abu Rawq said that Ibn Abbas said, "I did not know the meaning of 'Faatirus-Samaawati wal-Ard' until two bedouins disputed regarding a will, and one of them said, 'I Fatartuha'; meaning: 'I am the one who originated it' [Sha'n ad-Dua'a] 

Al-Hulaimee said, "Al-Faatir means the seperatation of the united pieces of the heavens and earth. Allah says in Surat Al-Anbiyaa [21:30]:

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا

"Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them?"

Accordingly. the meaning will be as follows: The heavens were smoke, and He fashioned it. He covers its night with darkness, and brings out its forenoon with light. The earth was not spread, and He spread it; He brought forth therefrom its water and its pasture.

The meaning could also be as is mentioned in some quotes: "We have parted the sky with rain and the earth with plant", then the aforementioned statement of Ibn Abbas is mentioned. Then he said, 'Confession of invention requires that it be this meaning" [Al-Minhaj]

The Impact of Belief in this Name: 

1) The Initiator of the creation of the heavens and earth is Allah; None has the right to be worshipped except Him alone, without any associates. There is no Creator besides Him. He is the One who split (parted) the sky with rain and the earth with plants. He is the One who initiated the creation of all the creation, when they were nothing. He says in Surah Maryam [19:67]:

"Does not man remember that We created him before, while he was nothing?"

If Allah is the Initiator of the Creation, how could anything other than Him be worshipped and magnified? 

Allah has directed His slaves to this matter in many verses in His Book, such as in Surat Al-A'raaf [7:54-55]:

"Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Command. Surely, His is the Creation and Commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!"

"Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors."

2) The Prophet ﷺ used to magnify (glorify) and invoke his Lord with this Name.

Abu Salamah said, "I asked Aishah, "What did the Prophet ﷺ used to open his Salaat with when he stood up in the night?" She said, "When he stood up at night, he would open his Salaat by saying: 

اللَّهُمَّ ربّ جبرائيل و ميكائيل و إسرافيل، فاطر السَّمَاوَات و الأرض، عالم الغيب و الشهادة، أنت تحكم بين عبادك فيما كانوا فيه يختلفون. اهْدني لما اختلف فيه من الحقّ بإذنك إِنَّك تهدي من تشاء إلى صراط مستقيم

Allahumma Rabba Jibraa'eel wa Meekaa'eel wa Israafel, Faatiras-Samaawaati wal-Ard, 'Aalimal-Ghaibi wash-shahaadati, anta tahkumu bayna 'Eebadaka feema kaanu feehi yakhtalifoon, Ihdini limakhtulifu feehi minal-Haqqi bi'ithnik. Innaka Tahdee man Tashaa'u ilaa siraatin mustaqeem

"O Allah Lord of Jibra'il, Mikaa'il, and Israfeel; Originater of the heavens and earth, Knower of the hidden and the seen; You judge between Your slaves concerning that which they used to differ, guide me through that which has been difference concerning the truth, verily you guide whomever you will to the straight path" [Muslim] 

He also used to say the following Dua in the opening supplication of the prayer:

"وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ ......"

Wajahtu wajhi lilladhi fataras-samawatiwal-arda hanifan wa ma ana minal-mushrikin. Inna salati wa nusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi rabbil-alamin, la sharika lahu, wa bidhalika umirtu wa ana min al-muslimin. Allahumma! Antal-maliku....

"I have turned my face Hanifa (upright on Islamic Monotheism) towards Him who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists. Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my death are for Allah, the Rabb (lord) of the worlds. There is no partner with Him. And this is what I have been commanded (to profess and believe), and I am one of the believers. O Allah, You are the King....." [Muslim]

The Prophet ﷺ used to glorify Allah by this Name in his morning and evening supplication: 

"اللهم عالم الغيب والشهادة، فاطر السماوات والأرض, رب كل شيء ومليكه أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت، أعوذ بك من شر نفسي وشر الشيطان وشركه"

Allaahumma 'alimal-ghaibi wash-Shahadaah, fatiras-samawati wal-ard, Rabba kulli shai'in wa malikahu. Ash- hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, a'udhu bika min sharri nafsi, wa sharrish- Shaitani wa shirkihi 

"O Allah! Knower of the Unseen and Seen, Originator of the heavens and the earth! Lord of everything and its Possessor. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but You. I seek Your Protection from the evil of my soul from the evil of Shaytaan and his Shirk"' 

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) added: "Recite these words in the morning and the evening and when you go to bed." [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmithi]